Colourful birth of a 1970s landmark

panels gradually appearing, some long-term Ashford residents and many newcomers are unaware of the building’s original construction.

During the past year, the 1970s landmark Charter House building has not only changed its name to The Panorama, but major works to convert it into modern dwellings and retail space have progressed rapidly.

With transforming features such as new windows and

Many images exist of the construction of Charter House, and you could say I have the ‘baby albums’ of the building, which is 39 years old this year.

I have a substantial archive of images and film, including some 16mm Telecine taken by Southern Television, which held the regional broadcasting licence for the South and South East until 1981.

But, rarely do pictures crop up of the site before any works commenced, particularly in colour.

A recent find in the basement of the building, unearthed several slides of the site as it was in 1970.

They were taken almost a year before the bulldozers and earthmovers moved in.

This week’s trio of images – dating back to the start of the 1970s – show the site at the very beginning.

Do you have any photographs or slides that you would be willing to lend to me, to enable them to be scanned and then featured in the Kentish Express? If you do, then please write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, Kent TN24 8JR, email me at rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk or find me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford.

Alternatively, you can leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232.

Please supply a return address for the return of originals.

A view of Knotts Cottages, North Street, Ashford in 1970, taken from an upper floor at 22 North Street, looking over the rooftops towards the Lower High Street. The former Downtown Diner (now the Press Rooms) can be seen far right of the picture.